Drones Are The Legacy Of The Ukraine War
Both sides rely heavily on unmanned aerial systems because they present a much cheaper and viable alternative to advanced missile systems.
When the conflict in Ukraine is finally over, and historians begin to tackle the war and its many episodes, much of it will be focused on the role of unmanned aerial systems.
The war in Ukraine is the first major drone war. To be sure, militaries have been using unmanned aerial systems for kinetic strikes and intelligence-gathering missions for decades. But never in the history of warfare have drones played such a key role in the operations of both sides.
The Drone War
The war in Ukraine is the war of the drones. It is the first state-on-state conflict in which unmanned aerial systems play such an important role. Both sides are using drones on an unprecedented level to attack, reconnoiter, and provide intelligence.
“In January 2025, Russia launched approximately 2,400 One Way Attack Uncrewed Aerial Systems (OWA UAS) into Ukraine, surpassing the December 2024 total of 1,700 as anticipated,” the British Ministry of Defence assessed in its latest intelligence estimate on the conflict in Ukraine.
The Russian military is primarily using suicide drones to target Ukraine’s energy grid, critical infrastructure, as well as military targets of opportunity. However, suicide drones often go astray and hit civilian targets, killing and maiming innocent people of all ages.
“The January 2025 total is comparable to the November 2024 and October 2024 totals. It is likely that Russian monthly OWA UAS launch rates of at least 2,000 will continue to be the standard expectation through 2025,” the British Ministry of Defence added.
The Russian military is relying so heavily on unmanned aerial systems because they present a much cheaper and viable alternative to using advanced missile systems. The U.S.-led international sanctions and chronic production issues have seriously hampered the production capabilities of the Russian defense and aerospace industry. Moscow is having a hard time finding the necessary material to build enough missiles—and reports from the front suggest that its production rate is insufficient to meet the ongoing demands of the war.
So, as the Kremlin cannot produce enough ballistic and cruise missiles, it is outsourcing many of their missions to cheaper—but less effective overall—drones. Moreover, to supplement its drone arsenal, the Kremlin has turned to third countries, particularly Iran. Tehran has provided the Russian military with thousands of drones and the necessary training on how to operate them.
“Impacting OWA UAS launch operations is challenging. However, on 26 January 2025 and 06 February 2025, Ukraine launched its own attacks against known Russian OWA UAS operational sites, with damage noted at both sites,” the British Ministry of Defence stated.
The Ukrainians have also been very good drone operators, showing impressive ingenuity in developing and producing unmanned aerial systems for all uses. One notable use for Ukraine’s drones has been strikes within Russia, which the United States and other Western powers have consistently refused to allow with the missiles that they supply. Consequently, Ukrainian-manufactured suicide drones have repeatedly struck key military targets within Russia, including command and control posts, air defense stations, ammunition depots, critical infrastructure, oil refineries, barracks, and military factories.
“These attacks again highlight Russia’s inability to protect military sites from Ukrainian UAS attack,” the British Ministry of Defence concluded.
About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou
Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.
Image: Shutterstock.